The Plot

The future is a dangerous place for dreamers and idealists.When a dictator takes over the United States, Annie Peterson attends a protest in Washington, DC, with her husband Paul. US troops fire into the crowd killing him, and Jake Johnsrud, a virtual stranger, risks his life to save hers. They are among the survivors who are sentenced to slavery on the Moon for their “crimes”—Jake as a miner; Annie as a sex slave.Jake fights increasing feelings of anger and jealousy as Annie struggles to perform her job, while she resists her increasing attraction to him. Along with their fellow inmates, they fight to survive on the lunar "rock" that is their prison.

Excerpt:

Massacre at the MallNoon, July 4, 2051Washington, DCThe protesters pushed against each other, trying to hold their signs up high above the crowd. The smell of sweat hung in the muggy July air, as Paul, Annie, and Crystal struggled to find a place to spread their blankets near the Lincoln Memorial. The passion of the crowd’s chant rang across the Mall.“Restore the Constitution! Restore free elections!”The Mall was so crowded they could barely breathe. Paul went in search of drinks and was gone over an hour. The first speaker mounted the podium.“Can you believe they’re charging five credits a bottle for water and seven for pop?” he asked, as he handed the women their drinks.“Now don’t you wish we’d brought the cooler from the car?” Annie asked.“I know, and you’ll never let me live it down,” Paul lamented. His warm, brown eyes smiled at her.“Well, if water’s five credits, how much’ll a sandwich be?” Crystal asked.“I already checked. Burgers’re fifteen credits and fries’re another five,” Paul replied, as he settled on the blanket between the two women.“It’s a seller’s market. They’ll charge all the traffic will bear,” said a man sitting on the grass next to them. “I’m Jake Johnsrud.” The man’s bright blue eyes twinkled momentarily when his gaze met Annie’s.Annie smiled at him. “This is my husband, Paul, our friend Crystal Petrie, and I’m Annie Peterson. Why don’t you join us on our blanket?”“Thanks,” he said.“Nice to meet you, Jake,” Annie replied. “Scrunch over there, Honey.” She patted the blanket next to her as she moved closer to Paul in the middle to make room for the tall, raw-boned man.“Well, the price of pop isn’t our only worry,” Paul said. “There are troops surrounding the Mall. I think we can pretty much count on being arrested.”“Then we’ll all be arrested together, just like my great-grandparents in Chicago.” Annie linked her arm through Paul’s and sang slightly off key, “If you’ve been to jail for justice, let me shake your hand.”Folk songs by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary had been staples in the Swanson household when she was growing up. Her great-grandmother had sung her to sleep with “Puff the Magic Dragon” and had sung along in the car as she listened to the group’s re-mastered files. And now, a century later, the music had been rediscovered. By the end of the day, it would be banned.They stood up to listen to the speakers.Annie followed Crystal’s gaze to the soldiers. She didn’t believe what she saw, and tried to process the sight of them raising their weapons. Crystal dropped her sign and yelled, “The bastards’re firing on us!”Paul’s head lolled forward, the charred hole still smoking, and Annie fell to the ground trying to cradle him. She sobbed, crying “No! No! No!” Crystal’s arms were around her, as she sat on the ground, clutching her dead husband. People were trying to run but there was nowhere to go. Annie felt Jake fall atop her and Crystal. Oh, my God! He’s dead, too!“Stay still,” he said. “We’re liable to get trampled.”Annie felt the weight lift all too soon, as Jake was roughly pulled to his feet by a soldier, who separated him from the women. They handcuffed Annie with a plastic tie-up, and dragged her away from Paul’s body toward an Army truck.“Nooooooooooo!” she screamed. “Paul!”They threw her in back of the truck, and Crystal landed next to her. She scooted closer to Annie.“Cry it out, Sweetie,” Crystal said. Annie leaned her head on the other woman’s shoulder and sobbed.

When I started Rock Bound, I initially thought the story was a dystopia, which is fine because I do enjoy them, but I was expecting Science Fiction Romance. Well, I can happily report that there is a distinctly dystopian theme for the scenes set on Earth, but the Science Fiction elements soon take over when the action starts on the Moon. And the romance? Very gradual and very sweet, which suited the story perfectly.5 StarsKindleLoverMM, Amazon:Fact or Fiction? April, 2015https://amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R27TTL62KYL83QLet me say, first of all, I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.......blah, blah, blah. Okay, now I've said that my honest review is WOW!!!!! As I was told, this genre' is outside of my boundaries of "normal" reading. Yes, it is. It's science fiction, futuristic, romance with a lot of truth mixed in!4 StarsEvampire, Amazon:Rock Bound Review, February, 2015https://amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1ETPGY8V4M5LMThe first book in the Moon Rock series is an intriguing futuristic drama romance that keeps the reader turning page after page.5 StarsE. Ben Sefer, AmazonMore than Sci-FiDecember 26, 2013http://www.amazon.com/review/RL3JLMYC3F3Z9Truthfully, this is much more than a science fiction story. Rock Bound is a social commentary with just enough political slant. I cannot count the number of “science fiction” books that turned out to be prescient. Rochelle Weber is reminding us to guard our democratic institutions and always stand up for what is right and just. … Annie [Peterson] and her new friends are resourceful, pragmatic and supportive. Especially Jake [Johnsrud]. Now that Annie’s a widow, is she ready for another relationship? I’m not giving away the entire story, you have to read the book to find out and that includes the fate of Annie’s mother and her son Will she ever see them again? Read the book! I’m looking forward to the second book that continues the story, Rock Crazy.